Hong Kong Visit

6th, 7th and 8th Feb.

Finally the programme of HH Karmapa giving empowerments begins in Hong Kong Convention centre and it was a great moment for everyone. The hall is very big and the setup is also very grand. I did not count how many people attended the empowerment but roughly more than 3000 people are there. Everyone seems very happy because they are able to see HH Karmapa and receive such a grand initiation. I saw many people from different countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippine, Nepal, China, USA, Europe, South America and there were also lots of Hong Kong people. The initiation was that of the Great Yogini Tara whose transmission comes from Tilopa and continues all the way to the Tibetan Master Taranath. The story of this lineage is that before Tilopa's realization of Mahamudra, he saw a light blink near the seat of the Buddha statue. He then tried to dig in the place and found one text but he was not able to get transmission from any masters. So after his realization he met an old woman and asked her about the text. Finally that old woman transformed into Green Tara and gave empowerments, transmission and teachings which is that of Great Yogini Tara's Tantra.

This empowerment and practice is under the Anuttara Yoga's Mother Tantra. His Holiness gave this empowerment within two days. First day was self development and then to the public he gave the preparatory empowerment. HH gave a detailed explanation in English and this was translated into Cantonese and Mandarin subsequently. The puja is very long and then many people lined up to receive substances of the initiation which altogether made the puja even longer. The preparatory empowerment was completed around midnight 1 AM.

The next day, again HH Karmapa, all the Rinpoches and Lamas started the puja of Yogini Tara at 9.30 AM and finished the puja around lunch time. Around lunch time, HH met many groups of people who came from far away. Empowerment began at 3 PM and he started to give teachings that were related to the empowerment. During the initiation the hall was silent besides the sound of HH speaking and the translation in Chinese language. People were very attentive and full of interest to receive the empowerment from HH Karmapa.

At the end of empowerment, HH Karmapa, along with myself and the other Rinpoches had to carry certain substances of initiation to give to the people who came one by one. This took many hours. Each time I gazed up and hoped the line would finish, I see that the people are still lining up endlessly.

On the 8th HH gave the 21 Tara initiations which were according to the collections of all Tantric Methods (Drupthab Kundu). This is a detailed initiation where each of the Tara's initiation was given individually which takes a long time.

I feel very touched by the people who have so much devotion and patience to receive Dharma from HH Karmapa. Actually I wanted to say something at that time but on second thoughts, it was maybe not so nice for me to stand in front of public and express my feelings, so I decided not to do that. What I wanted to say is how I felt during the initiation. I felt like expressing that we are so fortunate that we have come into contact with the Karma Kagyu lineage which is the essence of the entire Buddhas’ teachings and was founded by the 1st Karmapa more the 900 years ago. The line of Karmapas carries on with great benefit to sentient beings until the 17th reincarnation which is that of Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje. The great Master HH Karmapa is the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara and Buddha Shakyamuni had prophesized this in the Sutras and Tantras many times. It is a combination of the sincerity of people in Hong Kong and the compassion of HH Karmapa which manifested the great event today. The blessing and compassion of HH Karmapa plays the role of a hook and the inspiration and devotion of people plays the role of a ring. So when both meet with good condition, then liberation and every benefit can take place without hindrance. I am sure that everybody knows the value of seeing HH Karmapa and receives his precious empowerments which ripens their mind and enable them to develop Bodhichitta and attain enlightenment for the benefit of sentient beings. For this, I just wanted to thank all the volunteers who worked so hard day and night to bring every possible comfort for the people and create a perfect environment like a pure realm. Also I would like to thank the Lamas from Rumtek and Kalimpong who prepared all the settings of the shrine and made the sand Mandala and Tormas for the puja and also for the initiations. I was also touched by Mr. Hans H. Luehrs's speech which was really spoken from his heart with deep devotion to the lineage and to HH Karmapa and HH Shamarpa. I cannot remember every word now but sometimes you don't need to say so much in words but can convey what you mean entirely if you really speak from the heart. I have not been to Hong Kong for more than 15 years so I do not know the names of the people there but actually I saw lots of wonderful people who presented the whole programme of HH Karmapa's visit very well to the fortunate people from Hong Kong and all around the world. Just like everybody feels so blessed after receiving the empowerment, I too feel very wonderful in receiving such precious teachings and empowerments, just like a person dying of thirst receiving plenty of cool fresh water is satisfied and completely contented. For this I wish to thank HH Karmapa, all the Sangha assistants to HH and the Hong Kong Bodhipath staff and volunteers. Without them, I can't imagine such a wonderful event can happen. This is what I wish to express to everyone.

My website is more to express my personal feelings and thoughts to those people who know me and want to know what I am doing in which area or place. So I may just write everything that I see and feel but it does not necessarily mean that all I mentioned are the views of any organization or group. I express my views in shangpa.org exactly as what I myself feel and if in any ways, due to my ignorance, I made a mistake or hurt someone's feelings unintentionally, please forgive me.